Review Blog

May 08 2013

Somebody's house by Katrina Germein

Ill. by Anthea Stead. Walker Books, 2013. ISBN 978
(Age: 4+) Picture book. Families. Houses. Neighbourhood.With
rhythmical flowing lines, Katrina Germein creates a refrain of 'Who
do you think is inside?' on each double page, adding a level of
mystery to her powerful introduction to the neighbourhood and the
occupants of the houses in the long looping street at the bottom of
the town. Each double page shows a different house, orange, green,
yellow, blue and red with the following double page showing the
people living inside and some of the things that they do. So the
yellow house, for example, has a bright yellow exterior, with
animals living in the branches of the tree outside, while inside we
see yellow carpet and dad and the children, along with sheep and a
cow. Children will love picking out the yellow things in this house,
and watching the sheep knit a scarf from its wool, and wonder at the
number of animals that reside in the yellow house. Each house is
markedly different, underscoring the range of people and places that
live in one neighbourhood, expressing the uniqueness as well as the
similarities of all who reside there.
The illustrations entice the reader to look critically at each page,
picking out the things offered by Anthea Stead, recognising everyday
objects, and seeing some things anew, enjoying the hidden depths on
each page as they read it again.
For any child the story is most satisfying, relishing in the warmth
of the house that is theirs, knowing their neighbours and the street
in which they live, learning their colours and the names of animals
along the way. A treat to be shared.
Fran Knight